Meet the Judges.
The day has arrived. The Aeropresses will be pressin’ very soon…
Tonight’s event is in the Black Box, in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter and by now you know that 2016 is a special year, as the World AeroPress Championship is being held in Dublin later in June. We will keep you up to speed with that as the event gets closer.
This years competition is free entry for spectators and, tonight there will be beer from Boundary Brewing, the Belfast debut of the Picture Bus and some great music. We’ll be sure to squeeze some coffee in there somewhere too!
Competitors, bring your fan clubs…fan clubs, bring all of the noise!
And remember to register for spectator tickets & get more info click here. We don’t know how many people will show up so get down early.
Without further ado then. This years Judges are:
Lisa Lawson
Twitter: @CoffeeGlasgow
Where do you work?
What is your job there?
Roaster, Barista Trainer, Multi-tasker, director!
Bio:
Roaster at Tobys Estate Coffee, Sydney 2000–2002 where I truly got the bug for coffee! When i was thrown out of Australia (!) and came back to Glasgow where I sold wine for years before getting my shit together in 2010 to start roasting again! I set up Dear Green in 2011 as Scotland’s first roaster of 100% speciality coffee. Since then I’ve founded the Scottish Aeropress Championship and the Glasgow Coffee Festival, I’m a SCAE Trainer (AST) and recently judged the Norwegian Aeropress Championship…
When was the last time you used an AeroPress?
Today
What’s your stand out coffee of 2016 so far?
Kenya Gakayuini Peaberry
What was your first job?
Waitress
If you didn’t work in coffee, what would you be doing?
Crying! Or working in the wine industry…
Have you ever competed in a coffee competition? If yes, give us the details!
Scottish Aeropress Championship
When you’re not using your AeroPress…V60, Kalita or Chemex?
V60
Hoffmann or Perger?
Pancakes or Waffles?
Pancakes
Washed or Natural?
Washed
Batman or Superman?
Batman
Pc or Mac?
Mac
Jonathan Hickinson
Twitter: @jonathanhickins
Where do you work?
What is your job there?
Watering the plants, badly pulling the odd shot and getting on everyone’s nerves.
Bio:
Northern Ireland Aeropress Champion 2015. Husband & father. Likes to collect plants. Enjoys good beer. Proud to be a part of speciality coffee in our country.
When was the last time you used an AeroPress?
Just before I filled this form out actually.
What’s your stand out coffee of 2016 so far?
Nicaragua, Finca Limoncillo, Washed Yellow Pacamara. Roasted by 3fe.
What was your first job?
I worked on a fish farm.
If you didn’t work in coffee, what would you be doing?
A manager in Wrightbus, a Marine Biologist or a weird Plant Store guy.
Have you ever competed in a coffee competition? If yes, give us the details!
Northern Ireland Aeropress Championship 2015. World Aeropress Championship 2015.
When you’re not using your AeroPress…V60, Kalita or Chemex?
V60
Hoffmann or Perger?
Pancakes or Waffles?
Pancakes
Washed or Natural?
Washed
Batman or Superman?
Batman
Pc or Mac?
Mac
Colin Harmon
Twitter: @dublinbarista
Where do you work?
What is your job there?
Ladder Holder
Bio:
Colin founded 3fe coffee on 2009 and today employs 22 people across 3 locations. He also runs Tamper Tantrum, an online coffee resource, acts as a consulatant to Nuova Simonelli/Victoria Arduino and in his spare time can be found speaking in the third person.
When was the last time you used an AeroPress?
Last week
What’s your stand out coffee of 2016 so far?
Limoncillo yellow Pacamara
What was your first job?
McDonalds
If you didn’t work in coffee, what would you be doing?
Some other F&B type gig
Have you ever competed in a coffee competition? If yes, give us the details!
4 Irish barista championships, 4 top 4 WBC finished, 8th in the world in Ibrik
When you’re not using your AeroPress…V60, Kalita or Chemex?
Chemex
Hoffmann or Perger?
Who?
Pancakes or Waffles?
Waffles
Washed or Natural?
Washed
Batman or Superman?
Batman
Pc or Mac?
Mac
Susan Barry
Twitter: @susanbarryy
Where do you work?
What is your job there?
Wholesale Account Manager
Bio:
I’ve lived out of Northern Ireland now for almost 9 years, first in Brighton and now London, but am still very rooted to Belfast, so being asked to do this feels like such a privilege — very proud to be representing Workshop and tasting some great coffee in my home city. I got into coffee through a bit of a non traditional route. I worked in sales and marketing in various industries from advertising to events, before deciding to focus myself into Food and Drink, which has always been my passion. Some time in marketing at Pact and also spending as much time in their roastery as I could, made me realise that I wanted to focus myself further into Speciality Coffee and totally immerse myself in it. So, this job sounded perfect..and here I am! Feel very lucky to be doing something I love every day — long may it continue.
When was the last time you used an AeroPress?
Yesterday
What’s your stand out coffee of 2016 so far?
Duromina — Workshop Coffee
What was your first job?
Crew Member at Mc Donalds Sprucefield
If you didn’t work in coffee, what would you be doing?
Working in beer perhaps..
Have you ever competed in a coffee competition? If yes, give us the details!
No
When you’re not using your AeroPress…V60, Kalita or Chemex?
V60
Hoffmann or Perger?
Pancakes or Waffles?
Pancakes
Washed or Natural?
Washed
Batman or Superman?
Superman
Pc or Mac?
Mac
Jan Komarek
Instagram: @Jans_lab
Where do you work?
What is your job there?
Quality Control and Green Coffee Buyer
Bio:
I originally come from IT background, but working in coffee for 8 years now. Started as a barista, cafe manager, then QC consultant and now also green coffee buyer. My cupping and judging experience include World Cup Tasters (competitor), Barista Championships (judge), Brewers Cup (judge), Cup of Excellence and Q grader exam. My focus is on quality improvements in coffee production and processing.
When was the last time you used an AeroPress?
One week ago
What’s your stand out coffee of 2016 so far?
Guatemala La Providencia Atitlan — Supermaduro
What was your first job?
Waiter
If you didn’t work in coffee, what would you be doing?
Probably wines
Have you ever competed in a coffee competition? If yes, give us the details!
Barista (2x), Latte Art (1x) and Cup Tasters (2x). Probably the best story is my Latte Art competition — I finished on the last place because I ran out of milk during my performance. And I didn’t know how to draw Latte Art without milk back then.
When you’re not using your AeroPress…V60, Kalita or Chemex?
V60
Hoffmann or Perger?
Pancakes or Waffles?
Pancakes
Washed or Natural?
Washed
Batman or Superman?
Batman
Pc or Mac?
Pc
Monika Palova
Twitter: @Coffeequirk
Where do you work?
3fe Coffee in Dublin.
What is your job there?
Coffee roaster
Bio:
I’ve been working with coffee since 2009, won 2011 and 2012 Slovak barista championship, working in 3fe for the last five years, first as a barista and last two years as a roaster.
When was the last time you used an AeroPress?
Last week in Japan
What’s your stand out coffee of 2016 so far?
At the moment it’s Kenyan Kiriga AB
What was your first job?
Ski instructor
If you didn’t work in coffee, what would you be doing?
Probably studying or already working with something related to medical science??
Have you ever competed in a coffee competition? If yes, give us the details!
Yes! Latte art competition in 2009 and 2010 (i think), barista competition 2011 and 2012
When you’re not using your AeroPress…V60, Kalita or Chemex?
Chemex
Hoffmann or Perger?
Who?
Pancakes or Waffles?
Waffles
Washed or Natural?
Washed
Batman or Superman?
Batman
Pc or Mac?
Mac
